Have you noticed that the devil tends to always strike when we’re on a spiritual high?
I have seen it so many times. Take the wonderful people who volunteer for ministry, for example. So many sign on, only to drop out a few days/weeks/months later, because everything seems to have blown up in their lives.
I, myself, not so long ago, received a wonderful answer to prayer. After surgery for breast cancer, I learned that I would not need chemotherapy or radiation therapy! I felt so close to God, and my quiet time with Him the day after left me feeling so close to Him, so loved! Not 20 minutes later, I had slipped so far from God that I could barely remember the miracle…
In case you feel that the devil’s tactic of hitting us when we’re on a spiritual high is a dirty trick, just remember that the devil did the same thing to the King of the Universe: “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.”(Luke 4:1-2, NIV2).
The setting was the Jordan River. Jesus had just been baptized with water by his cousin, John (See Matt 3:13-14), and as soon as Jesus was baptized, “…heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'” (Matt 3:16-17, NIV2)
So Jesus has just received God’s Spirit, and He’s just hearing God’s voice from Heaven affirming Him, affirming His mission, and affirming that God is very pleased with Him. And what happens next? He is led into the wilderness where we are told that the devil tempted Him for 40 days (See Matt. 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-12)!
And we think that the badgering we get for an hour or two is bad! Friends, the next time we are tempted to complain about a “bad” day, let’s remember that Jesus withstood 40 “bad” days! And that, without food!
Although we are told that Jesus was tempted for 40 days, the only record we have of the exact temptations comes at the end of this time. Let’s remember that during all of this time without food, the devil has been “playing” Him: “…being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.” (Luke 4:2, NKJV). But the devil waits until Jesus is at His weakest to come in with the three killer temptations (See Luke 4:3-11)!
Yes, that’s how the devil plays the game, friends. He doesn’t play fair! He takes us in a moment of a spiritual high, when we are feeling the closest to God, he then “plays” with us until we are at our weakest, and then he comes in with the killer punches!
Is it any wonder that so many of us crumble at his tactics?
But Jesus didn’t crumble (See Heb. 4:15).
“I know,” you say, “but Jesus is different. He’s the Son of God!”
True enough. But Jesus tells us all power that is His is now ours. This includes the power to say “no” to even the worst temptations of the devil. Consider this text: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you…” (Luke 10:19, NKJV)!
So why does Jesus stand firm while we all crumble? Consider the following reasons:
1. When we are feeling close to God, our tendency is to think that we are invincible. The difference is that Jesus knew He wasn’t. He knew that if He listened, even for a moment, to the lies of His archenemy, He would fail. So He didn’t listen. He kept His heart rooted in Truth.
2. We often allow the devil’s lies to distract us (It’s my RIGHT to be angry! What she did to me IS inexcusable!). But Jesus didn’t let Himself get distracted. Yes, He was hungry, and yes, the devil’s first temptation hit Him where He was weak (See Luke 4:3). But Jesus didn’t let His mind slip to His physical need. Instead, He stayed focused on God: “Jesus answered, ‘…Man shall not live on bread alone. But by every word of God.'” (Luke 4:4, NIV2)!
3. Finally, when we are “under the devil’s microscope” so to speak, we often feel that we are helpless. Like we have no offensive weapon to parry with. But Jesus knew differently, and like a master swordsman, He deflected each of the devil’s blows. His weapon? The same One that is available to each of us: The Sword of the Spirit — The Word of God (see Heb. 4:12)!
What lessons can we learn?
1. Let’s be wary of the tricks of the devil. When we are on a spiritual high, let’s be aware that we will be attacked!
2. Let’s not allow ourselves to get distracted by our needs or the needs of others around us. Instead, let’s stay focused on God, the giver of all strength!
3. Let’s strike back against the devil’s blows with the unerring Word of God!
And when we do, we will learn that we can resist the devil, even when we are at our weakest.
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn onTwitter @lynchaffart.
